All kidnapped Indians are safe, says Sushma Swaraj

The government on Thursday said all the 40 kidnapped Indians in Mosul town of strife-torn Iraq are "safe" and there locations have been identified by Iraqi authorities.

"They are all safe and are lodged in two locations - a cotton mill and a government building," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told the family members of some of the kidnapped Indians from Punjab who met her in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, his close aide said.

"We are making all-out efforts to ensure that all Indians return safely. We are leaving no stone unturned and whosoever is to be contacted, we have activated all of them. We guarantee to bring them back the moment there is normalcy there," she later told reporters.

Assuring the family members of the kidnapped, she said, "I have asked them to be patient, pray to God and allow us to make our efforts. I am confident that all three things will help us achieve success."

Swaraj advised all those stranded in Iraq not to venture out of their homes. Badal along with 24 family members of 13 kidnapped persons today met Swaraj who advised them to have faith in the government's efforts.

The minister on Thursday chaired two meetings of the crisis management group and explored various options to deal with the "difficult" situation.